India’s state-owned Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders is acquiring a majority stake in Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard PLC for approximately $53 million. This marks MDL’s first overseas acquisition, strengthening India’s shipbuilding capacity and maritime influence in the Indian Ocean amidst China’s growing presence.
From the era of the Tsars to Putin’s Russia, Sevastopol has been seen as a lifeline to the world’s oceans. It is Russia’s only warm-water naval port, which it can use year-round, unlike the ice-prone harbours of the North and East.
Becoming the first state to frame a dedicated policy for shipbuilding in India, Maharashtra on Tuesday (29th April), approved the Shipbuilding, Ship Repair and Ship Recycling Policy, 2025
The Colombo West International Terminal, developed by Adani, is the first fully automated terminal in Colombo, aimed to enhance the efficiency of the port and ease congestion.
The tentative plan outlines a journey that would see the ship setting sail from the port of Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat, with the anticipated timeline set for sometime in 2025-26.
Inaugurating the three-day Global Maritime India Summit in the national capital on Tuesday, PM Modi said, "In this changing world order, the whole world is looking towards India with new aspirations. The Indian economy is gathering more strength while the world is in the grip of an economic crisis."
After demanding 916 USD initially, the canal authorities had later lowered the demand amount to 550 million. A final settlement is expected to be reached soon.